Jeff Zucker in talks for top job at CNN

(LATIMES) — Former NBCUniversal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker is in advanced negotiations to become head of the cable news channel CNN, people familiar with the matter said.

Zucker would succeed Jim Walton, who said in July that he was stepping down as president and chief executive of CNN Worldwide. CNN is a unit of Time Warner Inc.’s Turner Broadcasting.

Discussions with Zucker have heated up in the last few weeks and Time Warner Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes and Turner Broadcasting Chairman Phil Kent are hoping to have an agreement locked up either by the end of this week or early next week, one person said. Talks could still fall apart given the delicate nature of the situation.